Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Are the pads on this kit velocity sensitive? And if so, how many 
levels of sensitivity does it have? Thanks =)

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "evansonebay" <sillygoop@h...> wrote:
> Are the pads on this kit velocity sensitive? And if so, how many 
> levels of sensitivity does it have? Thanks =)

If Yamaha hasn't changed the system while my back was turned, the 
Xpress module is capable of two levels of velocity crossfading per 
pad. This is a feature of the module, not the pads. So far as I know, 
the only pads that inherently provide velocity stacking, regardless 
of the module, are the Sherpas. I'd love to test them out.

Ed

> If Yamaha hasn't changed the system while my back was turned, the 
> Xpress module is capable of two levels of velocity crossfading per 
> pad. This is a feature of the module, not the pads. So far as I 
know, 
> the only pads that inherently provide velocity stacking, 
regardless 
> of the module, are the Sherpas. I'd love to test them out.
> 
> Ed

Hi,

So, does crossfading velocity mean that I can have 2 separate sounds 
on my cymbal, and depending on how hard I hit it, it will play a 
different sound?  Ie., can I set up my ride cymbal to play a 
light "pinging" sound if I play it lightly, and a "splash" sound 
when I smack it harder?

I'd love to know, as this is the main thing keeping me from 
purchasing one of these kits :)

Thanks!

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Farkus Gwenadon" 
<my_email_00@y...> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Farkus Gwenadon" 
<my_email_00@y...> wrote:
--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Farkus Gwenadon" <my_email_00@y...> 
> So can I set up my ride cymbal to play a 
> light "pinging" sound if I play it lightly, and a "splash" sound 
> when I smack it harder?

Yes, theoretically that's what it means. And Yamaha gives you 
different choices for the velocity points at which the sounds change. 
But it takes some practice to implement the theory in the heat of 
battle. People have come up with various ways to use the function. 
Mine was to crossfade between the same voice at two pitches, two 
frequency cuts, and two levels of decay, to simulate the variegated 
effect of striking an acoustic drum/cymbal. You can also stack two 
voices simulataneously to get the best of two worlds--say, to import 
some punch into a fat tom or some shimmer into a tight cymbal. A few 
members of this board have particularly inventive schemes.

> I'd love to know, as this is the main thing keeping me from 
> purchasing one of these kits :)

If I may ask, why is this particular feature the definitive selling 
point for you? Some very good, and popular, modules don't have 
crossfading at all, and others allow stacking/alternating as much as 
six voices/nine notes. Those that don't include it often have other 
methods of minimizing the machine-gun effect or varying sonic 
properties--positional sensing, multisampling, a randomizing codex, 
etc. I would venture to say that crossfading/stacking is not even the 
DTXpress' strong suit. I, for one, didn't always use it. Some of the 
other, less fussy set-up parameters, in combination with the inherent 
properties of the pads themselves, are sufficient to get convincing 
results from the already good samples in the module. Mine may be a 
minority view, however, since, as I said, I've read some impressive 
uses of the function from other members of this board. 

Ed

> Ed wrote: " A few 
> members of this board have particularly inventive schemes."
> 
For example, I like a really deep sound thump for my floor tom, so I layered
a lower volume base drum sound in with the low tom sound. 

OGD
 
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> If I may ask, why is this particular feature the definitive selling 
> point for you?

Arg, I just wrote a super-long reply and the "send" button got messed 
up.

Anyways... Thanks very much for your in-depth reply to my question!

I'm a brand new drummer, and since I live in an apartment, I thought 
that I'd look in to purchasing an electronic kit.  I've been testing 
out the DTXPressII at my local music store (they have a demo model) 
and I was frustrated with the fact that I couldn't use the ride 
cymbal to make both a "pingy" bell noise, as well as a 
louder "splash" noise on the same pad.  I just don't want to be 
playing my drums, and then wind up to hit my cymbal, expecting a 
splash and then all I get is a "ping" no matter how hard I hit it, 
you know?

I was unaware that other models don't have this feature, so thanks 
for the info!

I understand that you can stack sounds, I was just wondering if I 
could have 2 completely different sounds play at completely different 
times depending on how hard I hit the cymbal / pad.

Thanks again for your help.

-M